Startup Coaching

Startup Coaching

Three Cycles

Every business in your market, your community, and in the world, is at a different stage of growth. We divide those stages into 3 Cycles: Traction, Growth, and Enterprise.

Traction Cycle

You are just getting started. You need every bit of help to get traction, that solid connection with your customers that results in sales growth. In tech start-up terms we are talking about stage one or stage two startup. Different world, same challenges: selling, selling, selling, and setting up the business model for sustainable profits and growth.

We know what keeps you up at night as a new business owner. Getting traction feels like it takes everything you have but the wheels still keep slipping. It is a constant effort to keep sales growing while also trying to build the foundations of a sustainable business.

Traction Cycle Priorities

Sales

Marketing

Administration

Growing a network

Growing business knowledge

Traction Cycle Tips

Sales

Get out from behind your desk. There is no substitute for personal connections. In retail you have to let people know you exist and learn from them what their needs and fears are.

Structure your time. Set priorities (types of products; types of customers) and use a calendar to honour those priorities.

Follow up. In retail or B2B (business to business sales) follow up on every sale you can. Ask your customers for their support in improving their experience. Ask their permission to contact them to see if they are delighted. Or not.

Marketing

Follow up. As early as possible start some form of CRM (Customer Relationship Management). Ask your customers for their contact information and stay in touch. Email newsletters are the most cost-effective form of follow-up, but other forms will be determined by who your customers are and the nature of your business.

Get social. There are still business owners who question the value of social marketing (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn etc.) There is no question except ”How?” No two businesses will use the same tactics to be successful. You have to find your own social groove, but find one you must.

Track your efforts. The first day you open your doors is not too soon to start tracking your marketing efforts. The sooner you do the sooner you will have a benchmark against which to measure which channels, platforms, campaigns, products, services and messages work, and which don’t. If you aren’t tracking you are throwing spaghetti at the walls and probably wasting money.

Administration

There’s an app for that. Check out the various add-ons, plug-ins, and apps for your browser, your computer, and your phone that help with things like tracking receipts, managing invoices, collecting items for social marketing, using your time productively. There’s an app for almost every area of a business-owner’s work. You just have to look.

Good administration is good habits. Put your receipts into the same place every day. Schedule when you do email.

Hire a VA. For as little as $25 a month you can take work off your desk. Managing receipts and invoices, social media marketing, website content, and so many other things do not require full-time employees at the start.

Growing a Network

Join up. Join a networking group like Business for Business Networks (or start one up in your community) and join your local Chamber of Commerce. Show up as often as you can; even 1 – 2 times per week in the beginning.

Extend your network. New business owners tend to focus on creating a network of leads or potential customers. That matters, but a network of support and suppliers matters just as much. People who can provide good advice and people who can supply your business with the best products and services and provide great support have a huge impact on the success of a business.

Growing Business Knowledge

Networking is more than sales. Networking is also about learning. Go to the Business for Business or Chamber events to learn as much as to network. Accountants, insurance advisors, business coaches, social media consultants, and many other professionals speak at these events to develop their own businesses. For you it is a free learning opportunity.

6 Things That Will Absolutely Change Your Business

John has been my business coach for a year now and I have seen an ROI of 25% in my net Revenue and profit as a result. He has helped me to focus on driving sales, focusing my time, improving production and employee satisfaction. As an entrepreneur, it is important to know where you are in your business and specifically where you are going. John has given me tools to analyse what I have done and do what i have to do to move my business forward.

Cheryl Foley

I highly recommend John as a coach and a business consultant: deep experience and interest in a client's needs, strong support and powerful coaching skills helped me to identify a new level of my business development through amazing "Aha moment!" just in a hour work with John! Thank you John, and wishing you well!

Marina Malmberg – Owner

John is a visionary that takes global thinking from years of experience across big and small corporate environments, and applies it locally by pursuing his passion of providing traction for micro business growth. Working alongside John at The Network Hub Nanaimo has resulted in several "a-ha!" moments through discussion and collaboration, and John's presence is reassuring. So, if you are like me - a micro-business owner with a 'why not' mindset - you will likely experience a faster 'concept' to 'commercialization' for your business by working with John.